By Darkness I Burn [EN]

Chapter 5

Isabella – 18 years old

I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I stepped onto the penthouse.

Lord, how good it was to be home.

Mom frowned at me, puzzled by my reaction, but I pretended not to notice.

"I'm going to my room." I let them know, already going up the stairs, without looking back.

As I went upstairs, I could hear Dad asking what happened to me and Mom replying she didn't know.

She would soon.

As soon as I closed my bedroom door, I took my phone out of my pocket and called Hana. It took a few rings before it was finally answered.

"Hana!" I called as if she were my survival board.

"No. Maurizio. Hana is in the bath." Maurizio replied and I sighed too melodramatic for me.

"Is she at your house?"

"Obviously." He mocked.

"Do you know if she will take long, Zio? In the bath, I mean."

"You have to stop calling me that, Isabella." He complained. "And no, I don't. I don't keep track of how long my sister spends in the shower."

"Useless." I mumbled.

"Screw yourself" He snapped and I laughed. "So... Is everything okay? I mean, was the trip smooth?"

"As smooth as it could be. It's okay, Zio. Nothing beyond the ordinary. Anyway... When Hana gets out of the shower, ask her to call me, please."

"Okay." He replied and hung up the phone without even saying goodbye.

Bastard.

I gave up standing by the door and threw myself on the bed, looking at the ceiling and hoping that Hana wouldn't take long to return. However, when I went to check the call, noticed that it was already thirty minutes past the time I called. I grimaced and got up to take a shower and clear my head.

I was fine, just needed to tell someone and get it off my chest.

As soon as I got out of the shower, still wrapped in the towel, someone knocked on the door.

"Hello?"

"It is me." I heard mom talking on the other side.

"I'll just get dressed." Notified.

"All good."

I putted my clothes on and opened the door.

Mom came in and gave me a sheepish smile, sitting on the bed after. I continued to stand by the door.

"You want to talk?" She asked.

"Why would I want to?" I asked back and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"It's not for me to say why. My question demands a simple yes or no answer."

I shrugged. She was all mom-serious on me.

"Hm... Yeah, I think I want to talk."

Mom shook her head and patted the space beside her on the bed.

"What happened?" She asked as soon as I sat down.

I decided not to ramble on too much, I knew she wouldn't freak out and also really needed to share this with someone, so I just blurted out: